Perseverance

Recently I've been writing on the necessity of temptation and how we should view it in our individual lives. Temptation is a daily, mind you, daily occurrence that every human being goes through. Before I get to the meat of this article I want to remind everyone that throughout your day temptation will surely come. At times our temptation will be great while other times our temptation may seem less significant, and finally we will have moments where we are not tempted (in the fashion we've been speaking of i.e. to draw away from God and do our own will). Nevertheless we must always through the power of Christ persevere. Does perseverance always pertain to temptation? I believe through the writing of this article I'm coming to the conclusion that yes perseverance always pertains to temptation. Let me explain why.

Temptation is anything that causes your attention and desire to serve God to be diverted to your own will. It seems to me most people think of temptation in the larger sense, but I do believe it can creep into our lives in places we have possibly become numb to. So temptation can actually not seem like temptation because that particular area has lost significance. This is why Paul tells us "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph. 5:14). But after we've awaken from the dead we must be careful not to fall back asleep again and the only way to accomplish this is to pray to The Helper to give us perseverance.

The key passage for this post is 1 Corinthians 10:13: "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure". Pay attention to the last sentence. God always shows us a way out of our temptations. Let me say that again. God always, 100% of the time, shows us a way out of our temptations. That is why I firmly believe and have been writing on the necessity for temptation. In order for temptation to be necessary we first must understand it or else we're just playing into the Enemy's hands. As I've written, temptation can be viewed as a tool for the Enemy's advancement or for our Father's glory. Paul writes that God told him that God's power is made perfect in Paul's weakness. Our weakness is setup so that we may glorify the Father with it and rise to Him. Keeping this in made there is a transition between temptation and rising out of temptation. 

When God lets us know he is providing a way out that does not mean He's ensured we will overcome. No we must pray to the Holy Spirit for perseverance to accept the Father's grace so that we may endure what is afflicting us. On Dictionary.com the definition for perseverance is as follows: continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation. What did God tell Paul right before He said "my power is made perfect in weakness?". God told Paul "my grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). Go back and look at the definition for perseverance. James writes "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" (1:12). But how do we receive the crown of life if there is no test? How do we stand the test if there is no trial? Ultimately how can we be saved if Christ did not persevere through the trial, withstand the test, and receive the crown of life so that we may share in his love and everlasting freedom. Someday there will be no temptation, because someday we will stand before the Father and we will tell us "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Matt. 25:21). He will set us over much more than we can imagine in this life if we can only be faithful to him over a little temptation in this world. Truly, our suffering and temptation will never ultimately come down to what Christ endured because Christ endured more than we can comprehend. 

My dear brothers and sisters I pray our Father will empower you with love in order to persevere in order to be strengthened for the glorification of His Kingdom. First you must follow James 4:10 and "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you". Do not be deceived by the falsity your temptation brings but withstand the test and enter into the joy of your master. I pray these words God has given me will mean something to your daily life and that you will understand that your temptations true purpose is to humble you in order for God to exalt you. Never stop improving the present moment.